Combination lock



J. SPADAFORA.

COMBINATION LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8. 1921.

433345,, 7 Patented Oct; 24, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Invemor. Joseph Spadufom byWkW A W IIys.

J. SPA'DAFORA. COMBINATION LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEB. I92].

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JOSEPH SPADAFORA, F CAIVIBEIDGE, IVIASElAGHUSETT-S, ASSIGNOB TO COMBOMANU- FACTUBING CDIVII-ANY, A CORPORATION 015 MASSACHUSETTS.

communion Loon.

Application filed June a, 1921. Serial No. 476,079.

TooZZ whom it may concern.

. Be. it known that I, Josnrii SPADAFORA, a citizen of the UnitedStates,and resident of 1i1nbridge, county of hiiddlesex. State of :sachusetts,have invented an Improvement in Combination Locks. of which thefollowing description, in connection with the accompz-inying drawing, isa specification, likecharacters on the drawing representing like parts.

This: invention relates to combination locks and has for one of itsobjects to provide a combination lock which is-admpted to-r a variety ofpurposes but isspecially applicable. for use an automobile lock inlooking and unlocking the steering wheel of an automobile.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved i-xombinationlock whichis constructed so that the combination can be readily changed.

Other objects of the invention are to im prove generally locks of thistype all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

My improved lock comp-rises a. shiftable member to be looked, aplurality of tumbler elements tor looking said members from in tbutwhich when linedup release the member, a single setting member for i 'ngup the tumblers and manuallyscontrolled means tolimitpositivelythesetting movement of the. setting member.

The lock is adapted for a variety of purposes but as stated above it isspecially adgeous when used as an automobile steer i reel lock and inorder to give anun iding otthe invention it have chosen -itin thedrawings as it would w employed i f onnectionwith the steering el oi anautomobile. i

ithe ilrawings, Fig; lie a sectional view h. a steering wheel having myimprove llock. i r 1.

Q is a plan vieavot the steering-wheel a hub with the combination partotthe lock reino L I m 5 a plannviewofthe camrforoperat-ing thedockinggpin.

4i is a sectional view through the hub 6 showing the collar 3. a

Fig; 5 a sectional View through the cam on the line 5+5", Fig. 3.

(Sis a top plan View otthe steering wheel head showing the dial whichforms the guide tor.manipulating the lock.

Fig. i is asectionthrough the hub of the steering wheel and thelooktakenon the angular: line 7-7, Fig. 2 and showing the steen ing :whoel:locked'iniits wild condition.

Fig. 8 is a similar view showingthe steering wheel connected tothesteering shaft.

Figoflis-an enlarged top plan view of the casing supporting notchedrings, said rings being shown in relative position'they occupy when thelockis set. i

Fig. 10 is a similar View showing rings linediilp to release the lock.

Figillis a bottom plan view ofthe setting member.

Fig. 12 is a: perspective view of the actuating cam.

Fig. 13 is a perspective View of thelockmg pin.

14 is a perspective View of one of the notched rings.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view showing the manner in which the settingmember operates the rings.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the manner in which thesetting member actuates the notched rings.

In the drawings 1 indicates a steering wheel of an. automobile and2isthe steering shaft which extends down through the steering post and-towhich the usual steering arm is connected. In my improved lock thesteering wheel is-normally free from the steering shaft 2, in which casethe steering wheel is inoperative so "far as steering the automobile. isconeerned, but the steering wheel can he operatively connected to thesteering shaft 2 in which case the steering wheel is operative as usualfor steering the auto-- mobile. This connecting oi the steering wheel toand disconnecting it -from the steeringshai t 2 is accomplished by meansof a collar 8 whichis fast on thc shaft 2 and is provided with aplurality o1"- recesses 4., and aconnecting pin 5 whiohis carried by thehub 6 ofthe. steering wheel andiis adapted to be ordered in one oftherecesses i or withdrawn there-from. This. connecting pin 5 is shownas extending through the hub .6 and as being acted upon by a spring 8which tends to raise the connecting pin and thus Withdraw it from therecess 4, said pin having a head 7 against which the spring acts.

When the pint? is depressed into the positionshown in Fig. 8 the. lowerend thereof enters one of the recesses 4 and thus the steering wheel 1becomes rigidly connected to the shaft 2 through the collar 3, and solong as the connecting pin 5 retains this position the steering wheel isoperative for steering the automobile in the usual manner. If, however,the connecting pin 1S raised into the position shown in Fig. 7 and thuswithdrawn from the recess 1, the steering wheel will be disconnectedfrom the steering shaft and can rotate freely thereabout without givingrotation to the steering shaft. In this condition the steering wheel iswild as it is termed and is inoperative for steering the automobile.

- The steering wheel hub is shown as having a depending flange 9 whichencircles the collar 3, said collar thus forming a bearing for thesteering wheel. The steering wheel hub is prevented from being withdrawnfrom the collar by means of a screw 10 which passes through the flange 9and is screw- .threaded into a nut 11 that is received in a peripheralgroove 12 formed in the collar 3.

in order to make it impossible for anyone to remove the screw 10 whenthe steering wheel is in its free or wild condition, I have made thegroove 12 of suificient depth to intersect the recesses 1 and I havemade the nut 11 with the flat portion 13 on its inner end, said flatportion occupying the part 01 the groove 12 which intersects therecesses 1. When the connecting pin 5 is in its operative depressedposition shown in Fig. 8 the lower end of the pin will en- ;i a-ge theflat portion 13 of the nut 11 and thus prevent said nut fron'ituri'iing, and so long as the nut is thus held from turning the screw'10 may be unscrewed and removed. ll hen, however, the connecting pin '5is in its'raised position shown in Fig. 7 then the nut 11 is free torotate and it will turn with the screw 10 thus making it impossible toremove the screw.

The connecting pin 5 is moved from its lowered position shown in 7 toits raised position shown in Fig. 8 by means of the spring 8. It isgiven its reverse movement by means of an actuating cant 14: which ismounted for rotation about the axis of the steering wheel. This cam 1 isshown as carriel by a ring 15 ans it may be either integral with thering or separate part inserted. into the ring. This ring is shown havinga flange 16 which sets within a curb 1'? formed onthe steering wheel andhub, said hub centerii the ring and holding it in g'jroper position.

e conne ting pin 5 is shown in dotted l. s th. ition relative to the camcorresponding; '4', when the ring 15 is l turned clockwise, Fig. the cam1e will act on the pin 5 and depress the latter into lookingengagcn'ient with the collar 3.

The operation or connecting the steering wheel to or disconnecting itfrom the shaft 2 therefore involves the partial rotation oi the ring 15and cam 14.

A combination lock device is employed for locking the ring 15 either inthe relative posit-ion shown in Fig. T or that shown in Fig. 8, so thatwhen the am ring is locked in either position it can only be unlocked byone knowing the combination.

Such combination lock device comprises in its construction a lockingmember 18 in the form of apin situated axially of the shaft 2 andmovable axially in a sleeve 19 that is rigidly connected to the hub 6 byieans of a screw ..0 screwed into the lower end of the sleeve and havinga head 21 overlying the under side of the hub U. and by means further ofa projection 22 carried by the hub and entering a slot 23 formed in thesleeve.

The locking member 18 is acted on by a spring 2 1 which normally movesit dowir wardly and said member is provided with a laterally extendinglocking arm 25 which rides on the upper face of the cam member 1 1. Thisupper face is formed with the two notches and 27 between which is theraised portion 28. When the arm 25 occupies either notch 26 or 2? andheld from vertical movement, the cam 11- will be locked from turningmovement. These notches 2G and 9,? are so disposed relative to eachother that the lockinc; arm 25 will occupy one notch when the ring 15 isin tho relative positionshown in Fig. 7, and will occupy the other notchwhen said ring is in the relative position shown in Fig. 8.

Therefore as long as the locking arm is held in either notch 26 or 27the locking cam will be locked "from rotation and the steering wheelwill either be lor-lrcd to the shaft or will be locked in its \vild"condition.

The upward movement of the locking member 18 is controlled by aplurality oi tumblers herein shown in the form of notched or slottedrings which are arranged so that when they are set with their notches orslots out of alignment the locking arm 25 is held depressed but whenthey are set so that their notches or slots are in align-- ment thelocking arm may be raised through the aligned notches or slots thuspermitting the cam 15 to beturned.

In the present embodiment of my invention there are three of thesenotched or slotted rings indicated at 29, 30 and 3 respectively. Theserin 's are concentric with each other and witi the axis of the steeringwheel and are mounted for indcpendent rotation in a head 32 which issuperposed on the ring 15, said head having a hub 33 which eXtcnds downthrough the cam ring and by which the head is properly centered. Saidhead is provided with anresents nular grooves 34 to reeeivethe rings 29,30

the other'not-ches 26 or 27. When, however and 31. Each ring is providedwith a notch or space 35' of a width to receive the locking arm 25.These rings are situated abovethe locking arm when the latter isdepressed and so long as the rings are arranged with their notches orslots out of alignment as shown in Figs. 7; and 9- they will hold thelocking arm 25 depressed into one or the rings are adjusted relative toeach other to bring their notches or slots into alignment as shown inFig. 10 and in a positlon over the locking arm 25, then said arm is freeto be raised thereby permitting "the cam ring 15 to be turned; 3

Situated above the head 32 is a setting member 36 which is rotatableabout the sleeve 19 a ndby which the notched'rings may be positioned.ljlach notched or slotted ring is provided with a projection 37 risingtherefrom and the setting member is provided with projections 38depending therefrom which are situated to enga 'ethe projections37of'the notchedorislo-tte ringsThese projections 37 and 38are sodisposed relative to each otherthat a turning of the setting member 36in one direction or the other and through the proper angles will line upthe rings into the position shown in Fig. 10. The degree and directionof the turning movement of the setting member to bring each ring intothe lined up position de pends, of course, uponthe relative position ofthe projections 37 and 38. a To assist the operatorin setting thecombination the head 32 is provided with stop pins '39 which areradially arranged andwhich project beyond said head, each stop pin beingacted upon by. a spring 40 which yieldingly holds it in its outwardposition. Each stop pin 39 is provided with; a projection 41 whichnormally liesagainst the inner wall of thecurb 420E the head. Thesetting member 36'is provided witha flange 4:3 concentricwith but spacedfrom the-curb 4-2 and which is provided with a. stop projection 44. Thisprojection l i is situated inside of the projections 41 whentheyareagainst the curb 42 so that when the stop pins 39 are in "theirnormalposition the setting memberis free to be turned; If,

7 however, any stop pin 39 is pressed inwardlythe projection 41 thereonwill be carried into the path. of 'movement of the projection 714 thuslimiting the turning moveinent of the setting member. By manipulatingthe stop pins 39 in a predetermined order andturning thesetting member36 1n one directlon or the other-afterpressing ineach stop pin until theprojection 44- is brought up against a projection 41, the notched orslotted rings 29, 30 and 31 will be positioned wlth their notches orslots in line with each other and mldlli in line with the locking member25. When this condition exists then the cam ring 15 can be turnedthereby either locking the steering wheel to the steering shaft 2 orfreeing it therefrom After the cam ring has been turned then the lockcan be upset by simply turning the setting member 36 in one direction orthecthler thereby placing the notched or slotted rings with theirnotches or slots out of alignment.

The sleeve 19 is herein shown as closed at its upper end at 4:5 and saidupper end may loe provided with numbers 46 as shown in Fig. 6, therebeing one number for each of the pins 39. This graduation or numberingitiprovides a gulde to assist the op erator in manipulating the properpins 39 i to eiiect a release of the lock.

The projections 37 and 38 may be arranged so. that in order to releasethe lock certain preedetermined pins 39 must be manipulated in certainpredetermined order.

1 have provided a construction'herein by which it is easy to change thecombination and l accomplish this by making the pro jections 38adjustable in the setting menr ber 36. These projections are shown inthe form of screws .wihich are Lscrewed into: screw-threaded apertures47 formed in the setting member and thisconstruction makes it easyto-shift the position of the projectionsthereby changing thecombination.

In the construction shown the body of the steering wheel v1 is pivotedto the hub 6 into a. vertical position. This pivotal connectionis shownat 51 and to lock the steeri so that said steering. wheel may be swungup .ing wheelz in its operative position the latter isprovided with. arecess 53 adapted to receive a spring-pressed locking pin 52 carried bythe boss 54: formed on the steering wheelwlhis locking pin is actedFOnby. the spring53 whichnormally holds itin operativeposition. The lockingpin can readily be withdrawn to permit the steering wheel to be swunginto its vertical position. The claims-in thisapplication are directedto the con'ibination lock regardless of the use to which it is put. Inmy cofpending'applition to bring the slots thereof in alignment,

and depressible stop pins adapted when depressed to limit the shiftingmovement of the setting member.

iltltl in allock, the combination with a head, of a member to. belocked. having a laterallypr'ojecting arm, a plurality oi concentricslotted rings carriedby head and cooperating with said to lock themember from movement, a setting member turnable on said head about theaxis of said rings and arranged to set the latter to bring the slotsthereof into alignment, and a plurality of vradially-arrangeddepressible stop pins carried by the head for limiting the turningmovement of the setting member.

33. In a lock, the combination with a member to be actuated, of a camelement for actuating said member, a locking member for locking, the camelement from movement, said locking member having a laterally-extendingarm, a plurality of concentric slotted rings co-operating with said armto lock the locking member from movement, a rotatable setting member toshift the slotted rings thereby to bring their slots into alignmentwith'the arm thereby unlocking the locking member, and'a plurality ofdepressible stop pins to limit the turning movement of the settingmember.

4. In a lockythe combination with a head, of a member to be actuated, arotatable cam for actuating said member, a locking member having-alaterally-extending" arm cooperating with said cam to" lock it frommovement, a plurality of concentric slotted rings cooperating With saidarm to hold the locking member-in locking position, a setting mem--- berrotatable about the axis of said ring for shittingthe latter intoposition to bring their notches into alignment with said arm therebyreleasing the locking member from locking engagement with the. cam, andmanuallycontrolled means to limit the turning movement bf the-settingmember.

' 5. In a lock, the combination with a head,

of a member to be actuated, a rotatable cam for actuating said member alocking member having a: laterally-extending arm co-operatmg with saidcam to lock it from movement,

a'plurality of concentric slotted rings cooperating with said arm toholdL the locking member in locking position, a setting memberrotatableabout the axis of said ring for shifting the latter intoposition to bring their notches into alignment with said arm therebyreleasing the locking member from looking engagement with the cam, and aplurality of depressible stop-pins limiting the turning movement of thesetting member.

6. In a lock, the combination With a head, of a member to be actuated, arotatable cam for actuating said member, a locking member having alaterally-extending arm cooperatingnrith said to lock it from depressedto limit the turning movement of the setting member.

"4''. In a lock, the combinatnm. with a shi ltable member to be locked,ot a plurality of concentric slotted rings for locking said. member fromInOVGHIOHl a setting member independent from the shiltable member andturnable about the axis of said rings for shifting the latter into aposition to release the member to be locked, and manually controlledmeans to limit the shifting movement of the. setting member. 7

- 8. In a lock, the combination with a head, of a plurality ofconcentric slotted rings carried by said head, a member to be lockedsituated axially oi the head, and adapted to be locked by. said. rings,a setting member co-axial with the rings for setting the latter to linethemnp, and a plurality of radially arranged stop pins carried by saidhead for limiting the turning movement ot the setting -member.

9. In a lock, the combination with a shil'table member to be locked, ota plurality ot concentric slotted rings for locking said member frommovement. a setting membe turnable about the axis of said rings forshifting the latter into a position. to release the member to be locked,and manually-controlled means to limit positively the shifting movementof the settin member.

10. In a look, the combination with a shiitable member to be locked,o2": a plurality of tumbler elements for locking said member frommovement but which when lined up release said member, a single settingmember for lining up the tumblers, and manuallycontrolled means to limitpositively the setting movement of the setting member.

11. In a lock, the combination with a shiftable member to be locked, ofa plurality of tumbler elements for locking said member from movementbut which when lined up release said member, a single setting member forlining up the tumblers, and a plurali y of depressible stop pins forlimiting positively the movement of the setting member. In testimonywhereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOSEPH SPADAFORA.

